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We have a remote site with 30 Domain users, we have a Power Edge 2900 with 4 gb Memory running Windows Server 2003 Operating System. We are planning to add a new Domain Controller and keep the existing one as a secondary domain controller. Users are also using the domain controller as a file share server. I have the following questions.

1. What Hardware requirement should I go with for the Domain controller.

2. I want to go with Windows Server 2012 Standard, do we have to buy the Windows cals for the 30 users who will be connecting to the domain controller for authentication. We have Windows cals license for Windows Server 2003.

8 Replies

Any 64-bit processor will run Server 2012. If all you are using it for is DC and file sharing, you don't need a screaming machine. The majority of your specs will rely on the hard drives you want to install for your needs, IE. RAID 0/1/5/10. I have 2 servers running Server 2012 and both of them are HP variants with Quad Core 2.33Ghz processors and 8GB RAM. They are plenty fast for what their purposes are. As for licensing, yes you will need to purchase new licenses for the server since you can't use 2003 CAL's on a newer Server OS. If your employees work in shifts and use the same computers, you can save money by buying Device CAL's instead of User CAL's.

1. If all its doing is domain controller roles, the recommend specs on Windows Server 2012 should be all you need. However it may be a good idea to go bigger on the specs in case you want to virtual down the road.

2. I'm pretty sure you would have to buy new server cals for you users....you really should triple check that with your MS reseller just to be on the safe side.

3. Did you want a rack mount or tower server? Pretty much any would work given that its a single server and your not doing any virtualization at the moment (are you? you didn't specifically mention it).

I have a Virtual domain controller with 4gig of ram and 2 procs. For a DC you almost need no juice unless you're going to start adding additional services which is highly not recommended. I would separate your DC from anything and everything else if at all possible.

As for licensing you'll need new CALs for each revision of Windows server you're running. If you're going with 2012 you'll need another batch. If you then upgraded your previous server to 2012 in theory since those users will be using both DCs for authentication primary/backup as long as you don't exceed your license count you don't need to purchase more except of course the server license.

As for Dell boxes I would go with anything past the R300 series. I would go with something that has a raid 5 level for single drive failure protection.